Sears 917.38614 - Manual (Page 10)

OPERATION
GAS
о Fill fuel tank. Use fresh, clean, regular unleaded
gasoline with a minimum of 87 octane. (Use of leaded
gasoline will increase carbon and lead oxide deposits
and reduce valve life). Do not mix oil with gasoline.
Purchase fuel in quantities that can be used within 30
days to assure fuel freshness.
WARNING: Experience indicates that alcohol blended
fuels (called gasohol or using ethanol or methanol) can
attract moisture which leads to separation and formation of
acids during storage. Acidic gas can damage the fuel
system of an engine while in storage. To avoid engine
problems, the fuel system should be emptied before stor­
age of 30 days or longer. Drain the fuel tank, start the
engine and let it run until fuel lines and carburetor are
empty. Use fresh fuel next season. See Storage Instruc­
tions for additional information. Never use engine or
carburetor cleaner products in fuel tank or permanent
damage may occur.
TO START ENGINE
« To start a cold engine, push primer five (5) times before
trying to start. Use a firm push. This step is not usually
necessary when starting an engine which has already
run for a few minutes.
• Push engine speed control lever to fast (ф) position.
• Hold operator presence control bar down to the handle
and pull starter handle quickly Do not allow starter
rope to snap back.
• To stop engine, release operator presence control bar,
NOTE; in cooler weather it may be necessary to repeat
priming steps. In warmer weather over priming may cause
flooding and engine will not start. If you do flood engine,
wait a few minutes before attempting to start and do not
repeat priming steps,
MOWING TIPS
• Under certain conditions, such as very tall grass, it may
be necessary to raise the height of cut to reduce
pushing effort and to keep from overloading the engine
and leaving dumps of grass clippings.
• For extremely heavy cutting, reduce the width of cut
and raise the rear of the lawn mower housing one (1)
wheel adjuster setting higher than the front for better
discharge of grass.
• For better grass bagging and most cutting conditions,
the engine speed should be set in the fast («^) posi­
tion.
• When using a rear discharge (awn mower in moist,
heavy grass, clumps of cut grass may not enter the
grass catcher. Reduce ground speed (pushing speed)
and/or run the lawn mower over the area a second time.
• If a trail of g rass clippings is left on the right side of a rear
discharge lawn mower, mow in a clockwise direction
with a small overlap to collect the clippings on the next
pass.
• Keep top of engine around starter clear and clean of
grass clippings and chaff. This will heip engine airflow
and extend engine life.
• Pores in cloth grass catchers can become filled with dirt
and dust with use and catchers wiil collect less grass.
To prevent this, regularly hose catchers off with water
and let dry before using.
FIG. 8
MULCHING MOWING TIPS
IMPORTANT: FOR BEST PERFORMANCE, KEEP
MOWER HOUSING FREE OF BUILT-UP GRASS AND
TRASH CLEAN UNDERSIDE OF MOWER HOUSING
AFTER EACH USE. SEE “CLEANING" IN CUSTOMER
RESPONSIBILITIES SECTION OF THIS MANUAL,
« The special mulching blade will recut the grass clip­
pings many times and reduce them in size so that as
they fall onto the lawn they will disperse into the grass
and not be noticed. Also, the mulched grass will
biodegrade quickly to provide nutrients for the lawn.
Always mulch with your highest engine (blade) speed
as this will provide the best recutting action of the
blades.
• Avoid cutting your iawn when it is wet. Wet grass tends
to form dumps and interferes with the mulching action.
The best lime to mow your lawn is the early afternoon.
At this time the grass has dr ied and the newly cut area
will not be exposed to the direct sun,
• For best resuits, adjust the lawn mower cutting height
so that the lawn mower cuts off only the top one-third
of the grass blades (See Fig. 8), If the lawn is
overgrown it wiil be necessary to raise the height of cut
to reduce pushing effort and to keep from overloading
the engine and leaving dumps of mulched grass. For
extremely heavy mulching, reduce your width of cut,
mow slowly and raise the rear of the iawn mower one
wheel adjuster setting higher than the front.
• Certain types of grass and grass conditions may re­
quire that an area be mulched a second time to
completely hide the dippings. When doing a second
cut, mow across or perpendicular to the first cut path.
• Change your cutting pattern from week to week. Mow
north to south one week then change to east to west the
next week. This will help prevent matting and graining
of the lawn.
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